Hockey World Cup Qualifiers: India rally, share points with Scotland

HYDERABAD: Scotland proved to be a tough nut to crack as India rallied from a goal down to draw the match 2-2 in the FIH women’s World Cup hockey qualifier Pool B match here on Monday.Despite the draw, India are at the top of the table with four points, ahead of Scotland on goal difference.

While the visitors scored through McEwan Heather and Fiona Burnett in the sixth and 33 minutes, Naveet Kaur (18th minute) and Sunelita Toppo (29th minute) scored for India.

Heather deflected the ball from drag flicker Eadie Jennifer into the goalpost to put Scotland ahead. Navneet found the equaliser two minutes into the second quarter through a penalty corner. Though the trap was unsuccessful again, Kaur gained control of the ball and hit it into goal.

The visitors had a chance to go ahead in the seventh minute of the quarter after a penalty corner but goalkeeper Bichu Devi successfully thwarted it. India took the lead through a penalty corner on the brink of the quarter. Sunelita tapped the ball in from a deflection of Scotland’s Katie Birch after a tussle in front of the post to give the hosts an advantage at the half-time.Results: India (Navneet Kaur 18’, Sunelieta Toppo 29’) drew Scotland 2 (McEwan Heather 6’, Fiona Burnet 33’).

Italy 3 (Federica Bormida 19’, Lola Brea 21’, Eleonora Paola Di 45’) bt Austria 0. England 3 (Lily Walker 16’, Elizabeth Neal 38’, Grace Balsdon 44’) Korea 0. Uruguay 3 (Manuela Vilar 29’, Agustina Diaz 36’, Teresa Viana 41’) bt Wales 2 (Anja Atkin 5’, Rachel Goodwin 48’).